Aim: Assessment of the value of left atrial deformation indices for prediction of left atrial appendage
functioning patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
Method: The study included 250 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and normal left atrial
dimension. Trans-thoracic and trans-esophageal echocardiography were performed. Patients were
divided into two groups; patients with LAA thrombus (group I) and patients without LAA thrombus
(group II), a correlation between trans-esophageal and trans-thoracic data was analyzed.
Results: Group I included110 patients (44%) and Group II 140 patients (56%). By TDI mean LA strain and
strain rate were lower in group I (21.89 ± 7.75% vs 35.14 ± 9.28%; p < 0.001) and (1.15/sec, IQR 0.12e3/sec
versus 2.1/sec, IQR 0.21e3/sec, p < 0.001) respectively. By speckle tracking PALS and strain rate were
lower in group I (24.79 ± 7.78% vs 37.63 ± 8.64%; p value < 0.001) and (0.95 ± 0.32/sec. Vs 1.27 ± 0.32/sec
p, value < 0.001) respectively. By TEE; group I had lower LAA EF (39.2 ± 13.55% vs 53.86 ± 12.7%);
p < 0.001, and lower LAA emptying velocity (17.53 cm/s, IQR 9.54e77.4 vs 63.5 cm/s, IQR 7.89e86.4;
p < 0.001). There was a good correlation between LA TDI and speckle tracking PALS and PALSR and LAA
EF% and velocity p < 0.001. TDI and PALS and PALSR were found to be significant predictors for LAA
thrombus (P < 0.05) with good sensitivity and specificity.
Conclusion: Left atrium deformation indices are predictors of LAA thrombus or SEC in patients with nonvalvular AF with accepted sensitivity and specificity.
© 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the